Multispeed variable-signal transmitter



Oct. 9, 1928. N. H. SUREN MULTISPEED VARIABL E SIGNAL TRANSMITTER FiledAug. 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet l I INVENTOR Alal hap ,MSufen ATTORNEY Oct. 9,1928. 1

N. H. SUREN MULTISPEED VARIABLE SIGNAIJ TRANSMITTER File d Aug. 4, 19243 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Naihan h. Sllren ATTORNEY v Oct. 9, 1928.

1,687,045 N. H. suREN MULTISPEED VARIABLE SIGNAL TRANSMITTER Filed Au.4, 1924 s Sheets-Sheet 3 Uniforms V 1 driving M ulmnism INVENTORa'ilzan ltSurgn I Anonuev latented @ct. 9, 1923. I

ca e STATES,

NATHAN n, 'SUBEN, or NnEnriAivr,

PATENT optics;

MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE GAMEWETIL COMPANY, OF NEWTON UPPER FALLS,MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATKON OF MAS- SACHUSETTS.

MULTIsrnnn VARIABLE-EEGNAL TRANSMITTER.

Application filed August 4, 1924.. SerialNo. 729,918.

This invention relates to multi-speed variable-signal transmitters, andis particularly suited for embodiment in such transmitters as areprovided at fire alarm central stations and are there used for themanual. retransmission to the fire companies of alarms received fromstreet boxes, or otherwise.

In order to facilitate references to such transmitters, in the course ofthe description of this invention, and for want of better terms, theword signal is herein employed to signify a message characterized by thenumber and arrangement of its component parts, which parts may bearranged in one or more groups each consisting of one or more visible oraudible. manifestations or of impulses of electrical or otherenergysuited for controlling orcausing such manifestations. For like reasons,groups of such manifestations or impulses will be hereinafter referredto as digits; such individual manifestations or impulses will bereferred to as strokes; means for setting the transmitters so as todetermine the number of strokes within individual digits will bereferred to as digit-determining mechanism; the digit-determiningmechanism of any given transmitter will be referred to asnumber-determin ing mechanism; and means whereby such transmitters maybe adjusted to effect the for mulation of the set signal either once orwith one or more repetitions- S0 as to afford one or more so-calledrounds of the signa1will be referred to roundedetermining mech anism.Furthermore, mechanism for measuring or establishing the durations oftime intervals between digits of signalswhich .ie'chanism is, in manytypes of transmitters,

intermittently operable-will be hereinafter referred to as pausingmechanism. 1

For reasons which are well understood by those skilled in this art, itis important that such transmitters shall be arranged so that all of theintervals between strokes within digits of any signal (hereinafterreferred to as stroke intervals)v shall be of substantially equalduration: that, when signals comprise two or more digits, the intervalsbetween such digits (hereinafter referred to as digit pauses) shall besubstantially greater and bear a fitted relationship to such strokeintervals: and th at, when two or more rounds of a signal areformulated, the intervals between such rounds (hereinafter referred toas adjustments of the round pauses) shall likewise be substantiallygreater and bear a fixed relationship to the digit pauses. I

From the-foregoing it will be apparent that multi-speed transmittersshould be so arranged that adjustments affecting the speed of operationthereof shall cause proportional variations in stroke intervals and boththe digit and round pauses.

In. transmitters of the character just referred to, 1t hasheretofore'been customary to equip each transmitter with as many speedgovernorsas there were speeds to be provided for. Thus, for example, inatwo speed transmitter, there have been two governorsone of which wasalways driven by the machine, when running, and served to govern itsspeed of operation when acting at the faster one of its operatingspeeds, and being therefore known as the fast speed governor,while thether has been arranged fordetachable connection with the governedmechanism so that,

when acting, it would supplement the retard 7,

ing effect of the fast speed governor and thereby cause themechanism tooperate at a slower speed than when such slow speed governor wasdetached from the governed mechanism.

For the foregoing reasons, such prior art multi-speed transmitters havenot only in volved duplication of mechanism which is objectionable fromconsiderations of cost and facility of production, as well from theconsideration of providing such degree of sim alicity as will enableusers to properly care for and maintain the machine,'-but, mostimportant of all, it hasbeen difficult to provide and maintain desiredspeedadjustments,

because suchfast speed governors are not only sub ect to the wearlIlCldQht'tO the operation v of the machine'in formulatingfast speedsignals, but are also subject to wear incident to transmission of slowspeed signals, and all alteratio'ns of adjustment of the fast speedgovernorare likely tonecessitate compensating slow speed governor. i g

In the use of the multi-speed feature of variable-signal transmitters infire alarm central offices, it'is well knownthat a given signal is,ordinarily,first transmitted at the fast speed and then repeated. at theslower speed or speeds, and it is obviously undesirable to shift thespeed adjustments of theprior art transmitters while they are operatingat st speed. This has resulted in development of ill the practice ofstopping the transmitter for the purpose of making such speed shiftsbetween the tast speed and slow speed signals, thereby delaying thetransmission of the slow speed signals.

It is, therefore, an important object of this invention to provide amulti-speed transmitter which is so arranged that but one governor willbe required for the attainment of all of the various required speeds ofsignal formulation, and so that the speed of such governor and the partsmoving therewith need not be varied in order to vary the speed of signalformulation.

Another object of this invention is to provide, in a signal transmitterhaving speed governed operating mechanism adapted to cause theformulation of a series of strokes separated by time intervals ofdiverse relative durations,means for effecting substantiallyproportional variations in the durations of said intervals,respectively, Without varying the operating speed of said mechanism.

Other objects are to provide a multi-speed transmitter in which thespeed controlling mechanism will be effective, reliable, and com posedof a small number of'parts, severally characterized by strength,durability and facility of assemblage, as well as amenable to low costof manufacture.

Still other objects together with their inherent advantages Will be inpart obvious and are in part specifically set forth in the followingspecification.

In constructing transmitters in accordance with this invention,-thespeed governed mechanism provided for causing functional actuation ofboth the pausing mechanism and the formulatin means may be of a typewhich does not permit of adjustments for varying the rate of movementthereof; or, if adjustable as to speed, should be so arranged that, whendesired adjustment is attained, the adjusting mechanism may be securedagainst revision, as no adjustments of speed are needed in the ordinarycourse of the utilization of such transmitters when constructed inaccordance with this invention. The pausing mechanism and formulatingmeans employed should be such as are arranged for intermittentactuation, and mechanism should be pro vided whereby adjustments may bereadily attained such as will cause the speed governed mechanism toactuate the pausing mechanism and formulating means at any one oranother of the desired frequencies without altering the speed of themovement of such governed mechanism. More specifically,elements areprovided which are movable at a substantially uniform speed, as byrotation thereof, together with means for establishing cooperativeadjustments between said elements and the formulating means and thepausing mechanism whereby functional actuations of said means andmechanism will be caused-by greater or lesser numbers of said elementsto the end that the speed of such signal formulattions may be suitablyvaried without altering the rate of movement of said elements. It

tain of its features,an embodment thereof 7 is shown in the accompanyingdrawings and is hereinafter more fully described, which embodiment isintended as illustrative rather than as limiting the scope of thisinvention. For convenience, the selected illustrative embodimentincludes, by either direct or simplified diagrammatic representations,certain of the features disclosed in my co-pending application filedNovember 15th, 1919, Serial No. 338,287, Patent No.1,570,596, datedJanuary 19th, 1926, as Well as features which constitute improvements ofcertain of the features of said application but which, nevertheless,form no part of the invention herein claimed.

Like reference characters denote similar parts throughout theaccompanying drawin gs, in which 2- i V Figure 1 is a fragmentary sideelevation, partly in section, of mechanism'of aisignal transmitterembodying this invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of one of the parts of the mechanism of thetransmitter of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a. plan view of certain parts of the transmitter of Fig. 1;

F l is a diagrammatic development,at reduced scale, of the controllingdrum and associated levers of thetransmitter of Fig. 1

Fig. 5 1s arear elevation ofportions of the mechanism of the transmitterof Fig. 1, with certain parts broken away; 1 Fig. 6 is a rear elevationof other portions of the mechanism of the transmitter of Fig. 1. showingdetails of the arrangement of the digit-setting members, keys andassociated parts; and v I Figs. 7' and 8 are fragmentaryviews-illustratin other embodiments of certain features of thisinvention.

Signal formulating means.

In the transmitter of Fig. 1,signal formulating means are exemplified bythe contacts 20, 21, 22 and 23, which contacts are carried by butseparately insulated from thebracket 24; together with the lever 25,which is pivoted at 26, carries aninsulated'pin 27 arranged foractuation of said contacts, and

comprises an arm 28 so formed as to be adapted for engagement bysuitable mechanism for causing actuation of said contacts.

Actuatz'ng and interval ca m dag means.

The shaft'29 is arranged for rotation by any suit-able uniform speeddriving 1nechanism, sucln for example, as clockwork or a suitablygoverned electric motor (diagrammatically indicated in Said shaft 29 isso supported and driven that suitable movement lengthwise thereof may beimparted thereto without impairing the relationship thereof with saiddriving'mechanism; and said shaft carries the flanges 34;, 34, which arepositioned for cooperation with the arm 36; which arm is con; ected bymeans ofthe shaft 37, with the lever 38 (see Fig. 1) situated in frontof the frame plate 39, so as to facilitate adjustment of said shaft 29between one and the other of two lengthwise positions thereof; thusaffording means for establishing diverse cooperative relationshipsbetween said signal formulating means (as well as number-determiningmechanism and pausing mechanism to be hereinafter more fully described)and actuators therefor carried by said shaft. 7

A plurality of actuators are carried by said shaft 29 each. of whichcomprises projections, such as the projections 30, 31 and 32 best shownby 2 It will be observed that the projection is substantially double thewidth of either the projection 31 or the projection 32, measured alongthe length of the shaft 29. that the arrangement is such that saidproject-ions 3l'and 32 revolve in the same circumferential path, andthat part of the projection 30 also re volves in said path and theremainder of said projection 30 revolves in a corresponding pathadjacent to said first named'pathf lVhen positioned as shown inFigs. 3and 5, the actuator comprising the projections 30, 31 and 32 is sosituated that the arm 28 is in the path oft-he movement of part of theprojection 30 but .is not the path of the projections 31 and 32; itwill, however. be apparent that lengthwise movement of said shaft to aposition somewhat to the right of that shown in Fig. 3 will so positionthe pro jections 31 and 32 and part of the projection 30 that the pathof movementt iereof will include said arm 28; to the end that saidsignal formulating; means may be functionally actuated but once duringeach revolution of said shaft, while it is in the first of saidpositions and maybe functionally actuated three times when said shaft isin the other of'said positions.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the speed of signalformulation may bevaried, without varvin the speed of the shaft 29. bymoving said shaft relative to the arm 28 so as to cause said lever tobe. engaged by greater cori espondingly arranged for simlarly varyingthe frequency of actuation of the lever 25 throughout'wide variations bythe provision of suitable numbers of such pro ections.

Numb er-dcz er'nirm'ng mechanism.

The digit-setting members 40 and 40 are carried by the fixed shaft 42,for rotation in dependently thereof, and

the discs 43 and i3 are associated with said members 40 and 40 forrotation therewith, respectively. Each of said discs carries aprojection 45 (see Fig. 1) for a. purpose which will be hereinafter morefully explained, and has teeth 46 formed therein. said teeth beingarranged for engagement thereof either by retaining pawls for preventingthe rotation of said discs in clockwise direction or by revolvingmembers for rotating said discs in counter-clockwise direction, asviewed in Fig. 1. The actuators comprising the projections 30, 31 and32. 30?

' 31 and 3 and 30, 31 and 32, are

fixed upon the shaft 29, the formation and ar- 'ement of the projectionsof each of said actuators being similar to that of the actuator 11 ringhe projections 30, '31 and 32 hereinhefore described and bestillustrated by are so situated wi h reference to the teeth of the discas that said disc may be actuated by greateror lesser numbers of suchpro 'o-ns in manner analogous to that in w h the arm 28 may be actuatedby greater or lesser numbers of the projections 3O, 31 and 3 theprojections 30, 31 and 32 bep with relation to the teeth 4-6 of'the,disc a3. Each of the projections 30, 31, 32, 30", 31" and 32" are soproportioned and arranged with. relation to the teeth of the disc withwhich it is associated that rotation of the shaft '29 in the t leddirection will'cau'se counter-clockrotation (asviewed in Fig. 1) of itsassociated disc, an angular distance somewhat greater than that betweenthe. teeth thereof.

Means are associated with each of the setting members 10 and &0 forimparting thereto a tendency to rotate in clockwise oirection as viewedin Fig. 1; such-means being herein illustratively spring 53, one end ofwhich iS'SQOllI'GCl to the shaft 42 and the other end of which issecured to the associated setting member.

The'retaining pawls 54 and'54c' (see Figs.

1 and 6) are associated withithe discs 43. and 43, respectively; each ofsaid pawls bee ing so po itiooedwith relation to the teeth 46 of itsassociated disc that it may be moved maining in the path of theprojection 45' so The projections 30, 31 and 32' indicated as a coil asto suitably limit the rotation of such associated disc when disengagedfrom the teeth 46 thereof. Furthermore, said pawls are so positionedwith relation to the projections carried by the shaft 29 that, uponrotation of said disc in response to the engagement of any one of suchprojections with the one of the teeth 46 thereof which is situated atthe end of the series of such teeth farthest from the projection 45,said pawl may engage one of said teeth 46 to prevent clockwise rotationof said disc upon disengagement of such projection therefrom, and sothat there will be a suitable number of teeth intervening between theprojection 45 and the tooth so engaged by said pawl, for a purpose to behereinafter more fully explained. The springs 56, 56, are associatedwith the pawls 54 and 54, respectively, so as to move said pawls towardengagement thereof with the teeth of the discs cooperating therewith.

Rounds-determining mechanism.

The starting and rounds-determining member 57 is pivoted at 58, and oneend there of projects through the frame plate 39 to facilitate manualactuation thereof. The segment 59 moves with the member57 and engagesthe pinion 60 which is fixed upon the shaft 61. The driving spring 62has one end thereof secured to the shaft 61, and the other end thereofsecured to the post 63; said spring being so applied as to tend torotate said shaft in such direction as will raise the end of the member57 which projects through the frame plate 39; a stop 52 being providedin the path of said men he 57 for limiting said movement thereof. Asimilar stop limits the downward movement of the mem ber 57.

The gear 64 is ourn aled upon the shaft 61 for rotation independentlythereof, and the ratchet wheel 65 and disc 66 rotate with the shaft .61,a ratchet dog 67, carried by said gear 64, engages with the teeth of theratchet wheel 65. so that coun er-clockwise rotation imparted to saidratchet wheel through the shaft 61 bythe spring 62 will also be impartedto the gear 64. A notch 68 is formed in the periphery of the disc 66 fora purpose which will be hereinafter more fully explained.

The pinion 69 engages the gear 64 and drives the controlling drum 70,the relationship between said pinion and gear being such that angularmovement of said gear corresponding to the angular displacement of theteeth of the ratchet wheel 65 will impart one revolution to said pinion.

The controlling drum 70 turns with the pinion 69, and carriesprojections 71 and 72, the path of movement of which is such that, asbest shown by Fig. 4. during the rotation of said drum these projectionswill. successively engage the retaining pawls 54 and 54, respectively,and thereby disengage same from the teeth 46 of the discs 43 and 43'associated therewith, for a purpose which will be hereinafter more fullyexplained; but such actuation of said pawls will not cause them to bewithdrawn from the paths of the pro jections 45, 45 co-operatingrespectively therewith. I

The stop lever 79 is pivoted at 26 and comprises an arm 81 which is soformed that it may be moved into or out of the path of. the projection82 carried by the shaft 29 (see if 3) for the purpose of controlling theoperation of said shaft. The form and angular posit-ion of saidprojection 82 corresponds with that of the projection 31 as viewed inFig. 1, and said projection 82 is so positioned lengthwise of the shaft29 that, as best shown in Fig. 3, the path of said projcction willinclude the arm 81 irrespective of intended lengthwise movement of shaft29. The projection 83, carried by said lever 79, is formed andpositioned for so engagthe periphery of the disc 66, that, when saiddisc is int-he position which it occupies vhen the member 57 is restingagainst the stop 52, in its normal elevated position, said projection 83may enter the notch 68 formed in said disc, and so that when saidprojection is in said notch the arm 81 will be disposed in the path ofthe projection 82 and thereby prevent rotation of the shaft 29, and sothat when said projection 83 is supported by the periphery of said disc66 the arm 81 will be withdrawn from the path of the projection 82 andthereby permit rotation of the shaft 29. A lug 85 carried by the lever79'rides upon the periphery of the drum 0, said lug being so positionedwith-relation tothe arm 81 that, when said lug is riding upon theporipher T of said drum, said arm will be withdrawn from the path of theprojection 82; a depression 86 being provided in the periphery'of saiddrum, which depression is so situatedan'd of such depth that, when saiddrum is in the position to which it is moved when the starting member 57is in its normal elevated position, said depression will be in the pathof the lug 85. From the foregoing it will be apparent that the arm 81may be disposed in the path of the projection 82 only when both thenotch 68 and JUN the depression 86 are in the paths of the I projection83 and lug 85, respectively.

Pan-sing mechanism.

inafter more fully explained, said lever 87 wlllbe hereinafter referredto as the second round-pause lever,

The bifurcated member 92 is pivotallyconnected to the lever 87 at shipto the projections 30, 31 and 32, that the faces 9'7 and 9801" therespective branches of said bifurcated member may be alternatively swunginto the of said-pro ections 30', 31 and 32'. A stop pin 100 is mountedin the path of the member 92 for limiting movement thereof around itspivot 93, such as may be imparted thereto by engagement of the face 9'?thereof by its associated actuator; and a latch 101 is pivotallyconnected to said lever 87 at 102, which latch is so formed and arrangedthat it may be moved into or outof the path of the shoulder 103 formedon said member 92, for the purpose of retaining said position to whichit may be moved by engagement of the face 98 by. the projections 30, 31or 32, as hereinafter more'fully erplained. A spring 10 l'is soconnected to the member 92 and the latch 101 as to tend to swing saidmember away from the stop pin 100 and to swing said'latch'101 into thepath of the shoulder 103. A stop pin 105' carried by the lever 87 ismounted in the path of the member 92 for limiting the movement thereofin response to said spring 104.

A stop 106 is disposed in the path of the tail 10'? moving with. thelatch 101, and correspondingly ilar tails of other correspondinglatches,fto be presently referred to. positioned that, when the lever-87is in the position to which it is moved when the end 89 thereofvhas beenengaged by the projection 73, the tail 107 with said stop *ill be insuch engagement 100 as to hold the latch 101 out of the path of theshoulder 103 of the.

member 92. If the formation of the face 97 of the member 92 is such withrelation to the projections 30, 31 and 32 that, when any one of suchprojections is engaging said face and thereby moving the lever '87 awayfrom the drum 7 0, the friction therebetween will be sufficienttoovercome the tendency of the spring 104: to withdraw said face fromthe path of such projection,the stop 100 may be so positioned as tocause the latch 101 to be withdrawn from the path of the shoulder 103during such movement of the lever 8'? as will withdraw theend 89thereoffrom the depression 90, just before such end is moved far enoughto permit the.

drum 7 0 to pass thereunder.

periphery of the I the latch 101 will be withlf so arranged,

drawn from the path of the shoulder 103 at.

all times except when the lever'87 is in the position which it occupieswhen the end 89 thereof is situated in the depression to the end that,while said lever is norn ally positioned, the rotation of thesha ft 29may 93;. in such relation- I .to' the P08111011" where path of themovementmember in the i shoulder 103 from the swing said lever asdepression 90. It will also be ohserved that the formation andarrangement extends in the paths of sim-' Said stop is so path ofmomentary displacement of but will not cause movement than when the end89 merely cause the member 92, of the lever 87 other of said lever hasentered and the member 92 has been thereafter moved 'gaged the shoulder103 thereof.

' rs any event, of the bifurcated member 92 to one another, to theshoulder 103 of said member, and to the parts arranged foroperationtherewith, are such that when sald member is being held byengagement with thepin 105, of the lever 87 is inthe depression 90,-theface 98 of said member 92will be positioned for engagement thereof bythe actuator co1nprising the projections 30, 31 and 32' to the 1 endthat the rotation of the shaft 29 mayso move member 92 as to withdrawthethe depression 90,

the latch 101 has en the relations of the branches co-engagement or 00-'path'of the latch 101, I

the spring 104 in and the end 89 5 so that said latch may act to retainthe face? 9? in the path of its associated actuator so. long as the end89 of the lever 87 remains in the depression 90,"and that said actuatormay thereupon engage said face to thereby so to carry theend 89 thereofout of said of the member 92 with relation to the projections 30, 31 and3; is such that, irrespective of the relationship which may .e'xistbetween said member and any one of said projections at a time when thedepression 90-is presented to the end 89 of the lever 87, said member 92will not so engage or be engaged by any such project-ion as to preventsaid lever from moving to carry the end 89 thereof into saiddepression;for a reason the importance of which will be more particularly pointedout in the description of the operation of this mechanism hereinaftercontained. This result is attained because the face 97 of the n ember 92is the only p'artthereof which can be so engaged by any of saidprojections as to cause the lever 87 to be so moved as to carrythe end89 thereof out of said depression 90, or to prevent such movement ofsaidllever as will carry said end into such depression; and because saidface 97 will be brought into the such projections only when the end 89of said lever has entered the depression 90 andthe member 92 has beenthereafter moved to the position where the latch 101 has engagedcharacteristics are, in turn the result of such relative construction ofthe various parts that the lat$ch101is withdrawn from the path of theshoulder 103 at all times except when the end 89 of said lever is withinthe depression 90'; thus permitting the spring 104 to rotate said member92 around its pivot 93 so as to the shoulder 103 thereof w hich 1 leverare hereinafter referred to as the digit-pause and the first round-pauselever, respectively, are similar in formation, arrangement andfunctioning to the lever 87 hereinbefore just described in detail, andare respectively provided with springs 91 and 91, members 92 and 92,latches 101 and 101 coengaging with the stop 106, stop-pins 100, 100",105 and 105 corresponding to those associated with lever 87, and ends 89and 89" arranged to cooperatewith the projections 7 4 and 75 and thedepressions 108 and 109, in a manner which will be hereinafter morefully described and which corresponds generally with that of the end 89of the lever 87 with the projection 73 and the depression 90.

The levers 115 and 115, which are hereinafter referred to as the firstdigit lever and the second digit lever, respectively; are pivoted at 88for independent movement; respectively comprise the arms 116 and 116;and have the springs 91 and 91 respectively, applied thereto. 7

As most clearly shown in Fig. 4t, the depression 90 and the projection71 are so situated in the periphery of the drum to be brought into thepaths of the end 89 of lever 87 and the pawl 54, respectively, byintended rotation of said drum immediately following the withdrawal ofthe depression 86 from the path of the lug 85; the depression 110 is sosituated as to be brought into the path of the end of the lever 115 byintended rotation of said drum immediately following the withdrawal ofsaid depression 90 from the path of said end 89; the depression 108 andthe projection 7 2 are so situated as to be brought into the paths ofthe end 89 and the pawl 54, respectively, by intended rotation of saiddrum immediately following the withdrawal of said depression 110 fromthe path of said lever 115; the depression 111 is so situated as to bebrought into the path of the end of lever 115 by intended rotation ofsaid drum immediately following the withdrawal of said depression 108from the path of said end 89; the depression 109 is so situated as to bebrought into the path of the end 89" by intended rotation of said'drumimmediately following the withdrawal of said depression 111 from thepath of the end of said lever 115; and the depression 86, andprojections 73, 74 and are so situated as to be brought into the path ofthe lug 85, and the ends 89, 89' and 89", respectively, by intendedrotation of said drum immediately following the withdrawal of saiddepression 109 from the path of said end 89". v

The pins 117 and 117 are carried by the discs 13 and 43, respectively,forcooperation with said arms 116 and 116, respectively. The relativearrangement of said arms 116, 116' and their cooperating pins 117, 117is such that, for example, when the disc a3 is at the limit of theintended counterclockwise rotation thereof, as viewed in Fig. 1,the pin117 carried by such disc will engage its coopcrating arm 116 and so movesame as to swing the lever 115 out of the path of the periphery of thedrum 70; and so that,-when such disc is otherwise positioned, the pin117 carried thereby will be withdrawn from the path of the arm 116, sothat the end of the lever 115 may enter the depression 110 in the drum70. The arm 118 is pivoted at 119 and is so formed and arranged that thefree end thereof may be swung into the path of the lever 25 when saidlever is in the position to which it may be moved by the engagement ofthe arm 28 thereof by one of the projections of its associated actuatorcarried by the shaft 29; a spring 120 being so applied to said arm 118as to tend tomove same into the path of said lever 25. A rod 121 issuitably mounted for movement with said arm 118, and said rod extendsacross the paths of the a1'ms116 and 116, so that when either of saidarms is in the position which it assumes when the end of the leverassociated therewith is in the depression provided in the drum 70 forcooperation therewith, the arm so associated with such lever will engagesaid rod 121 and thereby move said arm 118 out of the path of thelever'25, and so that when both the arms 116 and 116 are in the positionin which they may be held by the periphery of the drum 70 or that towhich they may be lifted by the pins 11? co- 5 operating respectivelytherewith, they will permit said rod 121 to assume a position in whichthe free end of the arm 118 will be disposed in the path of the free endof the lever 25.

The mechanism thus far describedprovides for the formulation of a codesignal number consisting of the digits 99; it will be well un derstoodby those skilled in this art that, if a signal number comprising alarger number of digits is desired, additional groups of mecha nism eachcomprising a disc 13 with its associated parts including a digit-pauselever similar to the lever 87-should be provided for each desiredadditional digit, and such additional discs and their associated partsshould be arranged for sequential actuation in a manner correspondingtothatof the discs a3 and 13, as hereinbefore described in greaterdetail; and, correspondingly, if a signal consist-- ing of but one digitis desired, the disc 43 and.

The operation of the mechanism thus far described, in the absence of theother mechanism shown and to be hereinafter more fully described, is asfollows.

lVhen the machine is at rest, the parts o ccupy the relative positionsshown-in Figs; 1, 3, 4 and 5 in which the member 57' is held inengagement with the stop 52 by the spring 62 acting through the pinion60 and segment 59, and therefore the disc 66 is so positioned that thenotch 68 therein is presented to the projection 83 carried by the lever7 9 and the drum 70 is so: positioned that the depression 86 ispresented to the lug 85 carried by said lever 7 9. The lever 7 9, havingthus. been permitted to move in response to the spring 80, is sopositioned that the free end. of the arm 81 thereof is situated in thepath of the projection 82, and thus holds the shaft 29'agai'nstrotation.

While the drum '70 is normally positioned, as just described, theprojections 73, 74; and T5 are situated beneath the lever ends 89, 89and 89, respectively, for a purpose which will be hereinafter more fullyexplained, and the levers 87, 7 tioned that the latches 101, 101" and101 carried respectively thereby will be swung out of the paths of theshoulders 103 of the members 92, 92 and 92 cooperating respectivelytherewith, by the engagement of the tails 107 of said latches with thestop 106. Furthermore, during the normal positioning of said drum 70,projections 71 and 7 2 are so situated to permit the springs 56, 56tomove the pawls 5d and 5 1 into engagement with the teeth 46 of the discs4C3, and l3; and saiddiscs are therefore retained against the force oftheir actuating springs 53 in the positions where their projections 45are spaced, from their said respective pawls, the extreme distance towhich such discs may be moved through the engagementof the teeth e6thereof by the actuators associated therewith, respectively.

When the discs 43 and 4 3 are normally positioned, as just described,the pins 117 and 11'? carried respectively thereby support the arms 116and 116 in the position thereof where the free ends of the digit levers115 and115 are lifted outof engagement with the periphery of the drum 70and said arms are withdrawn from the path in which the rod 121 is movedwhen the arm 118 moves to the position where it is disposed in the pathof the lever 25. Said lever is in its actuated position, and thereforehas permitted said arm 118 to move into locking engagement therewith,and has moved contact 22 away from contact 23 and contact 21 intoengagement with contact 20.

Suitable signaling circuits may be connected to the contacts 20, 21, 22and 23; the contacts 20 and 21 being suited for controlling a normallyclosed signaling circuit, andthe contacts 22 and 23 being suitedforcontrolling a normally open signaling circuit; As will. be well.understood by those skilled in 8'? and 87 are therefore so pos1- I thisart, either the contacts 20 and 21 or'the contacts 22 and 23 may beduplicated, so as to provide for as many normally closed or normallyopen circuits as it is desired to control control, and contacts such asthecontacts 22' and 23 maybe correspondingly omitted when there are nonormally open signaling circuits to control. 4

is hereinbefore pointed'out, the transmitter thus far described isarranged for operation at one or the other of two predeter mined speeds.If it is desiredto condition the transmitter for operation at the slowerof such speeds, the lever 38 should be so actuated as to move the shaft29 lengthwise to the left, as viewed inFig. 3; and if it is desider totransmit a signal at the faster of such speeds said lever 38 should beso actuated as to move the shaft 29 to the right, as viewed in Fig. 3;and the member 57 should thereupon be moveddownwardly for a greaterratchet wheel past the dog 67, and if greater number of rounds isdesired, a correspondingly greater number of such teeth should be movedpast saiddog.

Upon the commencement of such movement of the member 57, he notch 68 inthe disc 66 will be withdrawn fromwthe path of the projection 83, andsaid disc will therefore so swing the lever 7 9 as to carry the free endof the arm 81 out of the path of the projection 82, thus permitting theshaft '29 to rotate in response to the driving mechanism providedtherefor. Such movement of thelever 79 will also withdraw the lug 85from the depression 86, in the periphery of the drum 70, in which 65will act through the dog 67 to cause such.

rotation of the drum 70 as will carry the depression 86 out of the pathof said lug 85 and will the depression 90 into the path of the lever end89, which will thereupon enter said depression and thereby arrest therotation of said drum. lVhen theend 89 thereof enters the depression 90,as just described, the lever 87 will carry the latch 101 away from thestep 106 far enough to permit said latch to move into the path of theshoulder 103 of the member 92.

Assuming now that the lever 38 is positioned for causing slow speedsignal formu-.

tablishing cooperative relationships between the actuator projections30, 30, 30 and 30 and the arm 28, the disc 43 and the member 92, thedisc 43 and the member 92, and the member 92, respectively. It willtherefore be evident that, uponrotation of the shaft 29, saidprojections will engage the parts with which they are operativelyassociated once during each revolution of said shaft, to slightlydisplace said parts without causing functional actuation thereof.

When the member 57 is manually released, the drum will carry theprojections 3, 7 4 and 7 5 out of the paths of the lever ends 89, 89 and89", respectively, and the levers 87,

87 and 87 will thereupon move in the direction of the periphery of saiddrum 70. Such movement of these levers has no significance as to theparts already described, but has to do with the variable-signal settingmechanism to be hereinafter more fully described. If suchvariable-signal setting mechanism is not provided, the projections 7 3,74 and 75 may be omitted.

Such initial rotation of the drum 70 will also carry the projection 71into engagement with the pawl 54 and thereby move said pawl out of thepath of the teeth 46 of the disc 43, whereupon the spring 53 will rotatesaid disc in clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 1, until theprojection 45 is brought into en-- gagement with said pawl 54.

When the parts have assumed positions such as just described, eachrevolution of the shaft 29 will cause the projection 30"to engage one ofthe teeth 46 of the disc 43 and thereby rotate said disc incounter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 1, an angular distancesomewhat in excess of that between adjacent ones of said teeth; but, solong as the pawl 54 is held out of the path of said teeth, said discwill return to the position where the projection 45 rests against saidpawl upon disengagement of the projection 30 following each actuation ofsaid disc, as just described. Furthermore, during the revolution of theshaft 29 immediately following movement of the latch 101 away from thestop 106, said projection 30 will engage the face 98 of the member 2 andthereby swing said member to a position which will bring the face 97into the path of said projection upon the-next succeeding revolutionthereof, and the latch 101 will thereupon move into the path of theshoulder 103 of saidmember, thus retaining said member in such position.

-Upon the next succeeding revolution of the shaft 29, said projection30will engage said face 97 and thereby cause said lever 87 to carry theend 89 thereof outof the depression 90; whereupon the drum 70 will sorotate, in response to the spring 62, as to carry the clepression 90 andthe projection 71 out of the paths of the end 89 and the pawl 54,respectively, and carry the depression 110 into the path of the end ofthe lever 115. Whereupon, the spring 56 will move the pawl 54 into thepath of the teeth 46 of the disc 43,"

and the spring 91 will so move the lever 115 as to carry the end thereofinto said depression 110 and thereby arrest the rotation of the drum 70;at the same time so swinging the arm 116 as to engage the rod 121 andthereby swing the arm 118 out of the path of the lever 25. It will benoted that, prior to the engagement of the arm 116 with the rod 121, theprojection 30 will so engage the arm 28 as to swing the lever 25slightly away from the arm 118 during that portionof each revolution ofthe shaft 29 when the projection 30 is in position to so move the lever87 as to carry the end 39 thereof out of the depres sion 90; so that,when the depression 110 is presented to the end of the lever 115, the

movement thereof in response to the spring 91 will not be impeded byfriction between the end of the arm 118 and the lever 25; and

permit said contact 21 to move away'from the contact 20 and to permitsaid contact 22 to move into engagement with the contact 23, to therebycause the formulation of a signaling impulse in the circuit or circuitscontrolled by said contacts.

After the parts have assumed positions such as just described, eachrevolutionof the shaft 29 will cause the projection 30 to engage one ofthe teeth 46 and thereby rotate the disc 43 an angular distance somewhatin excess of that between adjacent teeth of said disc, carrying one ofsaid teeth past the cooperating end of the pawl 54. The spring 56 movessaid pawl 54 into the path of each of such teeth, so as to hold saiddisc against reverse movement during the times when said projection isnot in engagement therewith; and, while the arm 118 remains out of thepath of lever 25, each such revolution of'the shaft 29 will also causethe projection 30 to engage and then disengage the arm 28, therebycausing the lever 25 to act through the in-' sulated pin 2? to impart anoperative cycle of functional actuation to the contacts 21 and 22. 7

Assuming the digit 9 is being formulated then, following the eighth ofsuch operative cycles, the projection 30 will restore the disc 43 to itsnormal position, where it will be retained by the pawl 54, and the pin117 will so raise the arm 116 as to permit the arm 118 to move into thepath of the lever 25, and so as to withdraw the lever 115 from thedepression 110 in the drum 7 0.. VVhereupon the drum 70 will be sorotated as to bring the depression 108 into the pathof the end 89 andthe projection 72 into the path of the pawl a; whereupon the lever 87"will-move in response to its associated spring 91 so as to carry saidend 89 thereof into said depression and thereby arrest the rotation ofsaid drum and so as to carry the latch 101 away from the stop 106 farenough to permit said latch to move into the path of the shoulder 103 ofthe member 92, and said pawl 54 will move out of the path of the teethL6 of the disc as and said disc will thereupon rotate in respose to itsassociated spring 53 until its projection 45 is brought into engagementwith said pawl.

The projection 30 will now act through the arm 28 to so swing the leveras to restore the contacts 21 and 22' to their normal position; therebypermitting the arm 118 to move into the path of said lever 25 and holdsame against reverse movement when the projection is withdrawn from arm28. Concurrently with the action just described, the projection 807 willengage the face 98 of the member 92 and thereby swing said member to aposition which will bring the face 97' into the path of said projection,for engagement thereby upon theneXt succeeding revolution thereof, andthe latch 101 will thereupon move into the path of the shoulder 103 ofsaid member, thus retaining said member in such position.

Upon the neXt succeeding revolution of the shaft 29, said projection 30will engage said face 9'4" and. thereby cause said lever 87 to carry theend 89 thereof out of the depression 108; whereupon the drum will sorotate, in response to the spring 62, as to carry the depression 108 andthe projection 7 2out of the paths of the end 89 and the pawl 54:,respectively, and carry the depression 111 into the path of the end ofthe lever 115. 'Whereupon, the spring 56 will move the pawl 54, into thepath of the teeth 46 of the disc 43 and the spring91 will so move saidlever 115 as to carry the end thereof into said depression 111 andthereby arrest the rotation.

of the drum. T0; at the same time so swinging the arm 116 as to engagethe rod 121 and thereby swing the arm 118 out of the path of the lever25. 'he lever 25 will thereupon be moved, by the tension of the contacts21 and 22, so as to permitfunctional actuation of said contacts; and,during succeeding revolutions of the shaft 29, the'disc 4:3 will berestored by a step by step action, and eight operative cycles will beimparted to the contacts 21 and 22, in a manner corresponding to thathereinbefore described in greater detail in connection with theoperation of the disc 48 and the functional actuations of said contactsincidental thereto.

At the conclusion of the operative cy cle of round of the signal 99, thenotch the path of said into such depression and thereby arrest therotation of said drum and'so condition its member 92 that said end 89will be withdrawn from such depression 109 after two I operative cyclesof the projection 30', in a manner corresponding to that hereinbeforemore fully explained in connection with lever If, now, the member 57 wasinitially c0nditioned for the formulation of but one 68 will bepresented to the projection 83 and the depression '86 will be presentedto the lug .85, so that when said member 57 is brought to rest againstthe stop 52, the lever 79 will move in response to the spring 80 so asto carry the arm 81 into the pathof the projection 82, and therebyarrest rota tion of the shaft 29. If, however, the member 57 wasinitially conditioned for the formulation of two or more rounds of thesignal,

the notch 68 will not be presented to the projection 83, at the timewhen the depression 86 ispresented to the lug during the rotation of thedrum70 following the withdrawal of the end 89 from the depression 109,and the rotation of said drum will therefore continue until arrested bythe entry of the end 89 into depression 90; whereupon the sequence ofoperative cycles hereinbefore described in greater detail will berepeated.

It will thus be seen that there will be an interval following eachround, during which there will be nosignal strokes and which willtherefore constitute a round pause; each of which intervals will have,under the conditions just described, a duration measured by the rotationof the shaft 29 for four revolutions. Inasmuch as such round pauseinterval extends from the last stroke of one round to the first strokeof the next round, it is evident that the commencement of said intervalis substantially coincident with the conclusion of the operative cycleof the disc 43', at which time the movement imparted to the arm 116' bythe pin 117 causes the withdrawal of the lever 115 from the depression111 in the drum 70; whereupon said drum will so rotate as to bring thedepression 109 into the path of the" end 89". of

the lever 8'7, which end Will thereupon enter the depression 109 andstop the rotation of the drum 70. When the rotation of the drum 7 0 hasbeen thus arrested, two supplemental revolutions of the shaft 29 will berequired to cause the withdrawal of the end 89", whereupon said drumwill resume its rotation. As a result of such further rotation of saiddrum, the depression 90 therein will be brought into the path of the end89 of the lever 87, and said end will enter this deprcssion and therebyagain stop the rotation of said drum until said shaft 29 has made twomore revolutions and thereby effected the withdrawl of said end 89 fromsaid depression 90, whereupon said drum will turn until its movement isarrested when the lever 115 enters the depression 110 therein. Said drumwill now be positioned for again rendering the actuating mechanismoperative for the formulation ofanother round of the signal.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that, during the describedoperation of the mechanism, the duration of the stroke in tervals willbe co-extensive with the time required for one revolution of the shaftthe duration of the digitqoauses will be that required for tworevolutions of said shaft; and the duration of round-pauses willbe thatrequired for four revolutions of said shaft. Thus, so long as said shaftis rotated at a substantially uniform speed, there will be substantialuniformity of all stroke intervals, of all digit-pauses, and of allround-pauses, during ineffectiveness of the projections 31, 31, 31 and31, and the projections 32, 32, 32 and 32.

Assuming now that the lever 38- is sitioned for causing fast speedsignal formulation, the shaft 29 will be so positioned that operativerelationship will be establisued between the prejections 30, 31 and 32and the arm 28, the projections 30, 31' and 32' with the disc 43 and themember 92, the projcctions 80", 31 and 32 with the disc l3 and themember 92, and the projections 30, 31 and 32 with the member 92. It willthere fore'be evident that each revolution of the shaft 29 will renderall three of the projections of each of the actuators effective forconsecutively acting upon the part or parts with which they areoperatively associated, to the end that there may be three operativecycles of the shaft 29, instead of but one cycle as the case when saidshaft is positioned for slow speed signal. formulation.

The detailed operation of the transmitter shown, when adjusted for fastspeed opera tion, is identical with that during slow speed operationthereof, as hereinbefore described in detail, exceptas to the number ofoperative cycles of actuation for each revolution of the shaft 29; forthis reason, such description will not be here repeated. It will,however, be apparent that, during fast speed operation, all strokeintervals, digit pause, and round pauses will be so short-- ened thatthe duration thereof will be but one-third of that during slow speedoperation; so that adjustment of the lever 38 will cause substantiallyproportionate variations hand one of the positions actuation during eachrevolution of her of strol'es speed, said lever should be moved toeffect the desired change in speed of formulation.

For example, if it is desired to cause the formulation of two rounds atfast speed followed by two rounds at slow speed, the lever 88 should beso positioned that the shaft 29 will be situatecL at the right handoneof the positions to which it may be moved, as viewed in Fig. 3, and themember 57 should thereupon be moved downward as far as it will go andthen released, thus moving four of the teeth of the ratchet wheel afterthe formulation of tworounds of the signal, the lever 38should be sopositioned that the shaft 29 will be situated in the left moved, asviewed in Fig. 3. in the formulation of two rounds of the signal at fastspeedufollowed by two rounds or the signal at slow speed in a mannercorre-,

sponding to that hereinbefore described in greater detail. V

Shifting the adjustment of the transmitter from that for fast to thatfor slow speed signal formulation, as just stated, will not incur anyclashing of parts or any attempt to establish meshing relationshipbetween gears or clutch members, spceds-as has been the case in priortransmittersbut will be accomplished by so positioning the shaft 29 thatthe paths of movement of the actuator projections 31, 32, 81, 32', 31",32", 31 and 32 will not include the members which were operable therebyduring fast speed formulation.

Digit-determining mechanism.

Reference has hereinbefore been made to num'ber-determining mechanismfor setting the transmitter so as to determine the numwithin individualdigits, and the detailed construction and operation of such mechanismwill now be more fully described. Two digit-determining mechanisms areshown which cornprisetlie digit-setting members 40 and a0 hereinbcforereferred to, each of which members carry the teeth 130 to 139,inclusive; one such tooth being provided for each digit for which therespective determining, mechanism should be set. It will be understoodby those skilled in this art that, although ten such teeth are shown foreach of said members, a greater or lesser number may be provided, ascircumstances may require. Inasmuch as said teeth and the mechanismcooperating therewith are identical for said members 40 and 40, theywill past the dog "7. Then,:

to which it may be This will result-v moving at diverse ing bar issituated be described indetail only withreference to said member 40.Said teeth are spaced circumferentially around the member 40 in order ofsuccesion, and are also spaced lengthwise said member so that the pathof movement of each of said teeth is independent of the paths ofmovement of all the others of said teeth, and the angular displacementbetween successive onesof said teeth is substantially the same as thatbetween successive teeth of the disc.43.

The manually operable keys, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 areassociated with the teeth 130-to 139 inclusive, respectively; such keysbeing hereinafter referred to as digit keys.

Said digit keys are independently journaled on the shaft 141 and havethe springs 143 so applied thereto as to urge movement thereof towardthe fixed stop 142. The end 144 of each of such keys is so formed andpositioned that movement of such key away from the stop 142will carrysaid end 144 into the path of its associated tooth. A shoulder 145. isformed on each of said digit keys near the :end 144 thereof, and thelocking bars146 (see Fig. 6) and 146 are pivoted on the shaft 147 forindependent movement; said locking bar 146 having a projection 148arranged for engagement with the shoulders 145 of the digit keysassociated with the setting member 40, and the locking bar 146 beingcorrespondinglyarranged with reference to the keys associated with thesetting member 40. The springs 149, 149 are so applied to said bars 146and 146, respectively, as to urge movement of such bars toward theposition where their projection 148 will be disposed in'the paths of theshoulders 145 of the digit keys associated respectively therewith.

Now again confining this description to the locking bar 146 and thedigit keys asociatecl with the member 40,-the projection 148 of said barand the shoulders 145 ofeach of said keys areso relatively formed andarranged that when such shoulder of any one of said keys is situatedbelow said projection, movement of such key in opposition to the pull ofthe spring 143 will cause said locking bar to carry said projection toaposition which will permit its shoulder 145 as well as the correspondingshoulders of the other keys associated therewith to pass saidprojection, and so that when the shoulder 145 of any one of the keysassociated with that particular lockabove the projection 148 thereof,such key will be so positioned that the end 144 thereof will be situatedin the path of its associated one ,of the teeth 130 to 139, inclusive;and such key will beheld against movement such as would withdraw its end144 from the path of such associated tooth until said locking the pathof such shoulder 145, as by'the elevation of the shoulder 145 of someother key incident to the manual actuation thereof.

tion' (where said shoulder is barv is moved out of It will thus be seenthat any one of said keys may be moved from its normal position whereits shoulder 145 .is below the projection 148 of the locking bar 146) toits set posiabove said projection) at any time when the locking bar 146is not held against movement out of the path of the shoulders 1450fsaid'key as hereinafter more fully described; and thatwhen any key is somoved, it so displaces the locking bar 146 as to permitany key which hadpreviously been so moved to be restored to its normal position by itsassociated spring 143, and the last key which has been moved to itsabnormal position is there held until some other key is correspondinglyactuated.

' The arm 151 moves with the lever 87 and eX- tends from said lever in aline substantially parallel with but somewhat below the unit key 0 to apoint in approximate vertical alignment'with the shaft 141 upon whichsaid'key is journaled, and the arm 152 depends from and moves with saidkey 0, andcarries, at the free end thereof, a hook 153, which hook is soformed and positioned that when said key 0 is so positioned that theshoulder 145 thereof is above the projection 148 of the locking bar 146,said hook 153 will be'disposed in the path of the free end of the arm151 for the purpose of preventing such movement of said arm as wouldpermit the end 89 of the lever 87 to enter thedepression 90 in the drum70.

The latch 154 cooperates with a pin 155 carried by the locking bar 146,so-that said latch may, at times, prevent such movement of said har aswould permit the shoulders 145 of any of the digit keys from passing theprojection 148 of said bar. A flexible arm 156 moves with the latch 154,the free end of said arm being so arranged with relation to the arm 151that, when said arm'151 is in the position which it occupies when theprojection 73-of the drum has so engaged the end 8901 the lever 87 as tomove said lever away from said drum, said latch 154 will be sopositioned as to permit movement of the bar 146 such as will carry theprojection 148 out of the path of the shoulders 145 of the digit keys,and so that said latch mayv lock the bar 146 when said lever 87 is inany of the positions to which it may be moved by lll) means of thespring 91 when the projection 73 is not in the path of the end 89 ofsaid lever.

'The arm 151 (see Fig. 3) moves with the lever 87 and correspondinglycooperates with the arm 15? and hook153 provided on the key 0 associatedwith the member 40. and with the latch 154 associated with the lockingbar Variable-signal Operation.

The operation of the digit-determining mechanism which has just beendescribed, is-

as follows.

The digit keys O of both groups maybe normally depressed, thuspositioning the hooks 153 in the paths of the arms 151, as indicated byFig. 1.

To set the machine for the transmission of any desired signal number,the digit key of each group should be depressed which rcpresents thedigit which should occur the formulated signal in a-position relative tothe other digit or digits corresnondin to that group. For example, it itdesired to transmit the signal number 32, the digit key 3 in the lefthand group as shown by Fig. 8 and the digit key 2 ot the right handgroup should be depressed. The movement thus imparted to said keys willcause their associated locking bars to withdraw the projections 148carried thereby from the shoulders 145 of the keys associatedrespectively therewith, and the springs 1 13 of such keys will thereuponmove them so as to carry the ends 1&4 and shoulders 14-.5 thereof out ofthe path of the teeth 130 and below the projections 148, associatedrespectively therewith. Such movement of said keys 0 will also cause thebooks 153 of the arms 152 associated respectively therewith to bewithdrawn from the paths of the ends of the arms 151 and 151,respectively. r

It, now, the transmitter is set in'motion as hereinbetore described, theoperation thereof will bethe same as that already set forth in detail,except as to the following particulars.

Upon the initial rotation of the drum 70, when the projections 73 and 71- are withdrawn from the paths of the arms 87 and 87, respectively, theresultant movement of the arms 151 and 151 will permit the-latches 154to so engage the pins 155 as to retain the locking bars 146 and 146against such movement as would permit the shoulders 14th of any oi thedigit keys to pass the projections 1 118 of said bars.

When the pawl 54 has been withdrawn from the path of the teeth 46 of thedisc 13, the resultant rotation of said disc will be arrestedby theengagement of the tooth carried by the member 10 with the end 1 14 ofunit key 3, when 3 of said teeth 46 have passed the end of said pawl 54;and, under like circumstances, the rotation of disc 4:3 will be arrestedwhen two or" the teeth 16 have passed the pawl 5 1-, because the tooth132 carried by the member 1 will then engage the end 14 1- of the unitkey 2 associated therewith,

From the foregoing it will be evident that the signal number 82 will beformulated in a manner corresponding to that in which the signal nuiiber 99 was rormulated under the circumstances hereinbefore describedin greater detail.

When the transmitter is brought to rest at the conclusion of thetransmission of a signal, such as that just described, the projecearnetions 73 and '24 carried by the drum 70 will cause such movement of thearms 151 and 151 as will disengage the latches 154 from theirassociated. pins 155, and thus permit manual actuation of any of thedigit keys;

if, now, the key 0 or" each group is moved ae'ai at he tension of itsassociated spring the pa will be returned to the position firstdescribed; or, it it is desired to set the transmitter for me other.signal, the actu-. ation oi? the dig ieys representative thereof will.cause restoration oft-he keys and 2 previously used, and thus conditionthe machine tor the formulation of such other signal.

If it is desired to cause the formulation of a signal consistingof butone digit, this can be effected by pressing the key representative ofsuch digit in one group, and pressing the key 0 of the other group, (itsame is not already in depressed position). Thereupon, ii thetransmitter is set in motion as hereinbefore more fully described, theoperation th reof will differ trom'that hereinbefore stated indetaii, inparticulars as follows.

6 associated with the member 10 and the digit key 0 associated with themember have been manually actuated (being those of the left handandright hand. groups, respectively, as shown in 3) and that the transm teris thereupon started in operation, as hereinbeitore more fullyexplained,-atter the contacts 21 and 22 have been subjected to sixoperative cycles, and the disc e3 has been did not enter the depression108 when same was presented thereto immediately after the withdrawal ofthe end oi the lever from the depression 110, because the arm 151associated with said lever 87 was held by the hook 153 associated withthe digit key 0 of the group which controls the member 40, so as toprevent such movement of said arm as would permit the lever 87, to theend 89 there of into said depression 108; and, similarly, the end or"the lever 115 did not enter the depression 111 during the rotation ofsaid drum immediately after the depression 108 was presented to the end89, as just described, for the reason that when the pawl 54 waswithdrawn by the projection 72 from the teeth 41-6 of the disc 43. theend 14/1 of the digit key 0 associated with the tooth 130 of the member4:0 was disposed in the path of said tooth and therefore prevented suchmovement of the ssumino. for example that the di it ko .1, L 9 t) arm116 as to permit the lever away from the theend thereof into sa1dde- 115to carry pression 111.

It will be further observed that, because said arm 116 was so heldagainst movement at the time when the depression 111 was presentedthereto, said arm did not move to arry the arm 118 out of the path ofthe lever 25, and the contacts 21 and 22 were therefore not subjected toany operative cycles other than the six actuations which occurred whilethe end of the lever 115 was in the depression 110 of the drum '70. i i

If the digit key of the group associated with the member and, say, thedigit key 1 of the group associated with the member 10 have beendepressed. at a time when the transmitter is set in motion, the levers87 and 115 and the disc 43 will be correspondingly rendered inoperative,and the contacts 21 and 22 will be subjected to four cycles offunctional actuation duringthe activity of the disc as; but otherwise,the operation ofthe various parts will correspond to that hereinbeforedescribed.

More than two formulating speeds.

As already set forth in greater detail, the illustrative embodiment ofthis invention shown by Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 5 is arranged for operation atone or the other of two predetermined speeds; and, to this end,actuators comprising two groups of projections are therein provided forthe actuation-or control of each of the instrumentalities whoseoperation should be timed. Thus,the functional actuation of the signalformulating means is accomplished either by the one of such groups whichconsists of the projections 30, 31 and 32 or by the one which consistsof the projection 30, as determined by the adjustment of the lever 38;the group consisting of the projections 31 and 32 and the groupconsisting of the projection 30 being correspondingly associated withthe digit-determining mechanism comprising the disc 13 and'the pausingmechanism comprising the member 92, the group consisting of theprojections 30", 31 and 32 and the group consisting of the projection 30being correspondingly associated with the digit determining mechanismcomprising the disc 43; and the pausing mechanism comprising the member92, and the group consisting of the projections 30, 31" and 32 togetherwith the group consisting of the projection 30 are corre-' spondinglyassociated with the pausing mechanism comprising the member 92'. Itshould, however, be understood that if greater disparity between fastand slowtime operation of the transmitter is desired, it can be attainedby providing a correspondingly greater disparity between the number ofprojections in one and the other of the groups provided for therespective actuators; and if provision should be made for more than twospeeds of si nal formulation, this can be accomplished by providing asmany groups of projections for each of such actuators as there should bespeeds of ,s'ign'al formulation.

Thus, for example, substitution of actuators.

each comprising three groups of projections as illustratively indicatedby Fig.7 for actuators each comprising but twohgroups of projections as,illustratively indicated by Fig. 2 and hereinbefore described in detail,would enable the transmitter hereinbeforedescribed to be adjusted foroperation at any of three speeds. 1

Referring now more specifically to Fig. 7,attention is directed to thedotted lines 160 and 161 by which the-projections there shown aredivided into three groups, one of which groups comprises the portion ofthe projection 300 situated between the dotted line 160 and the endofsaid projection adjacent thereto, another ofwhich groups comprises theportion of the projections 300 and 310 which are disposed between thedotted lines 16} and 161, and the thirdof which groups includes theportion of the projection 300 situated at the side of'the dotted line161 farthest from the line .160 and the corresponding portions ofprojections 310, 320 and 330.

the word group is herein used to designate the projection orprojections,such as those carried by the. shaft 29, all or some portionof wvliicli move in any given path irrespective of whether otherportions of One or more of such projections move in other such paths.Thus, in the case of Fig. 7, the portionof the projection 300 whichextends'from dotted line 160 away from dotted line 161 is hereinreferred to as a group, notwithstanding the fact that such groupcontains what might be termed but'a part of one projection, being.physicallyintegralwith the portlons of said projection which form partsof other groups. Furthermore, the dotted lines 160 and 161 may beconsidered either as representing the division lines between threeseparate physi-, I

In this, connection it should benoted that and, in effect, move indifunctional actuations of signal From the foregoing, it will be obviousthat the substitution of actuators each having,

three groups of projections, such as those shown by Fig. 7, for thosehaving two groups of projections, such as those shown by Fig. 2, in atransmitter such as that hereinbefore described in detail, would providefor such adjustment of the shaft 29 as would cause but one functionalactuation of the associated instrumentalities when the path of movementof the portion of the projection 300 extending from the dotted line 160away from line 161 includes the cooperating part of such i11strumentality, two functional actuations per revolution of said shaftwhen the path of movement of the portions of projections 300 and 810which are situated between dottec lines 160 and 161 includes suchcooperating part, and four actuations for each revolution of saidshaftwhen the path of movement of the projections 320 and 330 and theportions of said projections 300 and 310 extending from the line 161away from the line 160 in cludes such cooperating part.

Similarly, it should be understood that, for the purposes of thisdescription, a given projection is considered as part of every goup withwhich it has cooperative relationship,

although the path of such projection may not at any time coincide withthe paths of all other projections which at any time serve therewith asgroup constituents. For example, referring to Fig. 8, the projections 30does not at any time move in a path identical with that of theprojections 31 or 32 but, because the arm 28 shown in associationtherewith is of such form that the projection 30 may be brought intooperative relationship with said armeither alone or concurrently withthe projections 31 and 32 ,-for the purposes hereof, such projection 30will be considered as constituting a group of one when positioned foroperative relationship with the arm 28 at a time when the projections 31and 32 are not so positioned, and as forming one of a group of threeprojections when the shaft 29 is so positioned as to bring aboutoperative relationship between all of such projections and said arm.

Inasmuch as-those skilled in this art will readily understand, from theforegoing, that various other relative arrangements may be provided.between projections having characteristics in common with thosehereinbefore described and instrumentalities arranged for actuation orcontrol thereby for effecting corresponding changes in speed of signalformulation, it is not deemed necessary to here provide further examplesof such alternative arrangements.

As many changes could be made in construction and many apparently widelydif ferent embodiments of this invention could be made without departingfrom the scope thereof, it is'intended that all matters contained in theforegoing description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall beinterpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. It is also tobe understood that the language used in the following claims is intendedto cover all of the generic and specific features of the inventionhereindescribed and all statements of the scope of the invention, which,as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween; exceptingonly those features which are disclosed in my co-pending applicationfiled November 15th, 1919, Serial No. 338,287, Patent No. 1 570,596,dated J anuary 19th, 1926, and features which constitute improvements ofcertain features of said application but which are not herein separatelyclaimed.

' What I claim and 'desire to secure by Let'- ters Patent of the UnitedStates of America is: 1

1. In a signal transmitter comprising signal formulating means andpausing mechanism,elements revoluble at a substantially uniform speedand adapted to thereby cause functional actuations of said means andsaid mechanism to formulatea series of strokes I separated by timeintervals of diverse relative durations, mechanism for variablydetermining the number of such strokes to be formulated, and meanswhereby the actuations of both said pausing mechanism and said numberdetermining mechanism may be controlled by greater or lesser numbers ofsaid elements to thereby effect substantially proportional variations inthe durations of said intervals, respectively, while maintaining thespeed of revolution of said elements substantially constant.

2. A signal transmitter having actuating mechanism including groups ofrevoluble projections, the projections of each group so formed andarranged that the number of and angular displacement between thosemoving past a certain point difi er from the number of and displacementbetween those moving past another point, code si nal formulating meansinvolving means adjustable for variously determining the characteristicsof such code signals, pausing mechanism for determining the time ofoccurrence and measuringthe duration of pauses between groups of signalstrokes within code signals, rounds-determining mechanism fordetermining the number of repetitions of the code signal and acting tomeasure the duration of the pauses between said code signals, meansoperable by projections of said respective groups for independentlyeffecting functional actuation of 7 groups lation and one or another ofa corresponding plurality of pause durations within and between codesignals.

3. A signal transmitter having actuating mechanism including groups ofrevoluble projections, the projections of each group so formed andarranged that the number of and angular displacementbetween those movingpast a certain point differ from the number of and displacement betweenthose moving past another point, signal formulating means androunds-determining -mechanism each operable independently of the otherby projectioris of said respective groups forthe formulation of codesignals and for causing and measuring the duration of pauses betweensuch signals,said formulating means involving means adjustable forvariously determining the characteristics. of such code signals, andselectively operable meansfor rendering effective those of theprojections of said respective groups which move past a relative one oranother of said points whereby substantially constant operating speed ofsaid projections may effect a selected one or another of a plurality ofspeeds of signal formulation and one or another of acorrespondingplurality of pause durations.

4. A signal transmitter having actuating mechanism including groups ofrevoluble projections, the projections of each group-so formed andarranged that the number of and angular displacement between thosemoving past a certain point differ from the number of and displacementbetween those moving past another point, signal formulating means andpausing mechanism each operable independently of the other byprojections of said respective groups for the formulation of codesignals, said formulating means involving means adjustable for variouslydetermining the characteristics of such code signals, and selectivelyoperable means for rendering effective those of the projections of saidrespective groups which move past arelative one or another stantiallyprojections may effect a selected one or another of a plurality ofspeeds of signal formulation.

5. A signal transmitter mechanism including a. shaft revoluble at asubstantially uniform speed and carrying of projections angularly spacedand of which those in each group are disposed in diverse circumferentialplanes, code signal formulating means involving means adjustable forvariously determining the characteristics of such code signals, pausingmechanism for determining the time of occurrence and measuring theduration of pauses between groups of signal strokes within code signals,rounds-determining mechanism for determining the number of repetitionsof the code signal and acting to measure of said points wherebysubconstant operating speed of said having actuating mining mechanism,incident to signal formulation, will be effected at a selected one oranother of a plurality of speeds.

6. A signal transmitter having actuating mechanism including a shaftrevoluble at a substantially uniform speed and carrying groups ofprojections angularly spaced and of whi 11 those in each group aredisposed in diverse circumferential planes, signal formulating means androunds-determining mechanism each operable independently of the other byrespective groups of said projections for the formulation of codesignals and for causing and measuring the duration of pauses betweensuch signals, said formulating means involving means adjustable forvariously determining the characteristics of such code signals, andselectively operable means for rendering effective those of theprojections of said respective groups which are disposedtin one oranother of said planes whereby functional actuation of said formulatingmeans and of said rounds-determining mechanism, incident to signalformulation, will be effected at a selected one or another of aplurality of speeds.

' 7. A signal transmitter having actuating mechanism including a shaftrevoluble at a substantially uniform speed and carrying groups ofprojections angularly spaced and of which those in each roup aredisposed in diverse circumferential planes, signal formulating means andpausing mechanism each operable independently of the other by respectivegroups of said projections for the formulation of code signals, saidformulating means involving means adjustable for variously determiningthe characteristics of such code signals, and selectively operable meansfor rendering effective those of the projections of said respectivegroups which are disposed in one or another of said planes wherebysignal formulation will be effected at a selected one or another of aplurality of speeds. j

8. A signal transmitter having actuating mechanism including a pluralityof elements movable at a relatively constant speed, code signalformulating means involving means adjustable for variously determiningthe characteristics of such'code signals, pausing mechanism fordetermining the time of occurrence and measuring the duration of pausesbetween groups of signal strokes within code signals, roundsdeterminingmecha-- nism for determining the number oi repetitions of the codesignal and acting to meas ure the duration of the pauses between suchcode signals, and selectively operable means; for subjecting saidformulating means. said pausing mechanism and said rounds determiningmechanism to independent functional actuation by greater or lessernumbers of said elements whereby substantially constant operating speedof said elements may effect a selected one or another of a plurality o1speeds oi? signal formulation and one or anotier of a correspondingplurality of pause durations Within and'between code signals.

9. A Signal transmitter having actuating mechanism including a pluralityof elements movable at a relatively constant speed, signal formulatingmeans and rounds-determining mechanism in c ependently operable bycertain of said elements for the formula tion of codesignals and forcausing and measuring the duration of pauses between such signals, saidformulating means involving means adjustable for ariously determiningthe characteristics oi such code signals, and selectively operable meansfor subjecting said formulating means and said,

tially constant operating speed O-L rounds-deter lining mechanism toindependent functional actuation by greater or lesser nun'ibers of saidelements whereby substansaid elements may eil'ect a selected oneoranother of a plurality of speeds of signal. formulation and oneoranothcr oi a corresponding plu-' rality of pause durations.

10. A signal transmitter having actuatin mechanism including a pluralityof elements movable at a relatively constant speed, signal tcrnnilatingmeans and pausing mechanism independently operable by cert-ain of saidelements for the formulation of code signals, said formulating meansinvolving means adjustable for variously determiing the characteristicsof such code signals, and selectively operable means for subjecting saidformulating means and said pausing mechanism to independentfunctional'actuation by greater or lesser numbers of said elementswhereby substantially constant oper ating speed oi said elements maveffect a selected one oranother of a plurality or" speeds of signalformulation.

In Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 30th day of July,192%.

NATHAN n. sunnn.

